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Zoo news: New exhibits up at Raptor Center
zoo slt wingspan NEW-MAIN
Robert Zimmerman shows his 2 1/2-year-old son Dominik how his wingspan compares to birds of prey, Wednesday at the Raptor Center. Robert, whose reach was about the same as a turkey vultures, was trying to coax Dominik to try the interactive exhibit, one of several new displays installed this past week.

 

New displays are up in the Raptor Center at Great Bend’s Brit Spaugh Zoo. Now visitors can learn more about the center’s mission as a temporary sanctuary for injured birds, and they can also learn more about raptors found at Cheyenne Bottoms.

An official ribbon cutting for the new displays will be held at 10:15 a.m. today at the zoo. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and admission is free.

The new displays allow plenty of human interaction. Visitors can peer at an eagle’s nest through a periscope, test the strength of their grip compared to a raptor’s, and comparing their "wingspan" with birds of prey.

There are also videos, educational pieces on various topics, and matrix barcodes that can be scanned with a smartphone for a quick link to more information on the Internet.

"You might learn something new every time you come over," Assistant City Administrator Dawn Jaeger said recently, when describing the new displays.

For example: Raptors can see with their eyes closed. According to exhibit information, a clear nictitating membrane covers their eyes during a dive in pursuit of prey. This protects the eye from wind while still allowing them to see.